Former National Housing Corporation manager faces fraud charges

By Fred Makana

Nairobi , Kenya: A former finance manager of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) was Tuesday arraigned in court to answer charges of illegally allocating houses built by the corporation.

Manasseh Munialo Wandabwa appeared before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Doreen Mulekyo to answer charges of failure to disclose a private interest.

State Counsel Joseph Gikonyo alleged that Wandabwa, on December 6, 2010, as NHC finance manager, while knowing that the NHC board was not aware of his private interest in house number D35-347 in Langata Phase II, failed to disclose that interest to the board and participated in proceedings of a house allocation committee meeting, which allocated him the said house.

Denied the charges

The former finance manager also allegedly acquired another house, number A667 in Makadara without disclosing his interest, on July 7, 2011.

He was further accused of acquiring another house, number B1-06 in Kileleshwa, on December 6, 2010, without disclosing his interest to the NHC board.

He, however, denied all the charges.

He was ordered to deposit a bond of Sh1 million or cash bail of Sh500,000 pending trial starting on January 14, 2014.

Mr Wandabwa failed to take his plea last Tuesday after he was reported to be travelling from upcountry, which compelled the court to defer the plea to Tuesday.